Command chief removed at Offutt

Jan. 17, 2014 - 06:00AM
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Thomaston (Air Force)

The command chief for the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., has been relieved of duty, a wing spokesman confirmed.

Stars and Stripes first reported on Jan. 16 that Chief Master Sgt. William W. Thomaston Jr. had been transferred to a job outside the wing after the wing commander decided that he could no longer effectively carry out his duties.

“There were no criminal charges preferred against him, and since this is an administrative personnel issue, we are not at liberty to discuss the details of why he was removed,” wing spokesman Delanie Stafford said in a Friday email to Air Force Times. “The 55th wing is currently in the process of assigning a replacement for the Command Chief position and a temporary replacement has been assigned until it is permanently filled.”

On Friday, the Omaha World-Herald reported that Thomaston’s wife, Robin, filed for a protection order against him Dec. 31 in Sarpy County District Court, and that the court approved the order Jan. 3.

According to the World-Herald, Robin Thomaston told the court her husband hit her in the chin during an argument Dec. 23 and verbally abused her and their two children. The court dropped the protective order Friday, at her request, so the couple could seek counseling and attempt to reconcile, according to the paper.